UFT members are ready for the march down Eastern Parkway.
For more than a decade, UFT members have been part of the glitter and glamour of the West Indian Day Carnival and Parade that celebrates the rich culture and traditions of the Caribbean annually on Labor Day. This year, 100 UFT members, resplendent in bright red T-shirts — but no real match for the flamboyantly beautiful parade costumes — shimmied down Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to the beat of steel drums on Sept. 5.
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Jonathan Fickies
Sharing a laugh along the way are retired teacher Beverly Segers (left) and paraprofessional Navia Nelson of the HS for Science and Learning in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Thousands of flag-waving spectators cheered them on as they accompanied the union’s float that proudly proclaimed “Teaching the Future of NYC.” Chapter Leader Evelyn Ortiz of PS 159 in the Bronx said members were caught up in the “good feeling of the day, energetically dancing all the way.” Michael Friedman, the chapter leader for Pathways to Graduation, said he has been a parade regular “because it’s such an exciting and enjoyable event.” He helped the union reach out to the community by handing out fans marked with the UFT logo to spectators. “We’re proud to be part of this parade,” said Anthony Harmon, the UFT director of parent and community outreach, “because it celebrates the diversity of the communities where our students and teachers live.” above: UFT members are ready for the march down Eastern Parkway.
